Here's How Much a Walmart Grocery Bill for Your Family Has Skyrocketed Since 2010
It’s no secret that the cost of groceries has risen over the years. But how have prices changed specifically at Walmart, a store known for offering budget prices? How much are families spending on their grocery needs there today compared to 16 years ago?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices rose 55% from 2010 to 2025. Put another way, a $20 grocery bill back then would cost closer to $31 today. While Walmart doesn’t publicly share its prices from back then, we can look at known historical data
The 16-year climb in grocery costs is outrageous, even at bargain big-box retailers.
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Average Grocery Spending for a Family of Four Today
The USDA breaks down the cost of food at home (groceries) into four plans: thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost and liberal. According to the USDA, the thrifty plan “represents a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet.”
Walmart’s slogan is “Save money, live better.” So, it’s not unreasonable to expect low everyday prices on groceries. Following the USDA’s guidelines, you can assume that shopping there would put you on the “thrifty” plan.
According to the USDA, here’s what a family of four (two adults, two school-age children) spends on the thrifty plan:
$510 monthly (January 2010)
$1,002 monthly in (March 2026)
That’s nearly double the cost. Notably, you could also fall under the “low-cost” food plan if you shop at Walmart for your groceries. Back in January 2010, the average family of four spent $648 monthly under this plan. Today, the USDA breaks down the monthly costs for this plan as follows:
$257 per child (6-8 years) x 2
$271 per female adult (20-50 years)
$312 per male adult (20-50 years)
Total: $1,097 monthly expenditure
Again, that’s a little more than double the cost compared to 2010.
Walmart Groceries Today vs. 2010
While official Walmart ads from so long ago are scarce, some figures are available. Here’s the cost of key produce items in October 2010 at a New Jersey store, per Produce Business:
Pound of Granny Smith apples: $1.47
Pound of asparagus: $2.94
Pound of green beans: $1.68
Pound of baby carrots: $1.66
1 ear of yellow corn: $0.33
Pound of yellow onions: $2.68
1 seedless watermelon: $4.48
And here’s what similar items cost today at a New Jersey Supercenter (regular price):
Pound of Granny Smith apples: $1.45
Pound of asparagus: $3.57
Pound of green beans: $5.98
Pound of baby carrots: $1.32
1 ear of yellow corn: $1.25
Pound of yellow onions: $1.08
1 seedless watermelon: $9.42
While a couple of items have held constant, and even dropped a few cents, other produce has doubled, tripled, and more.
Grocery Prices Overall Since 2010
While not Walmart-specific, many grocery items have jumped in price since January 2010. These include:
Ground beef — from $2.28 per pound to $6.75
Chicken — from $1.27 per pound to $2.03
Milk — from $3.23 to $4.07
Eggs — from $1.78 to $2.35
At Walmart, similar goods cost around:
That's right, meat and dairy are at the top of the national averages, which is shocking considering Walmart constitutes a large chunk of that average itself. Only eggs seem to be a good deal at the blue big-box store.
However, it's a problem across the board. For the most part, there’s not a major difference in Walmart prices vs. general food prices. Given that, one could assume that a family of four today would spend around the same amount as the USDA’s meal plans suggest. That is, they’d spend between $1,000 (thrifty) and $1,100 (low-cost) monthly at Walmart.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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